Caring for you Houseplants

 If you're a new plant parent, all of the care that goes into keeping your houseplants happy can feel a little overwhelming at first. However, most of your plants won't need constant attention to stay healthy. Other than remembering to water, there are plenty of easy-care houseplants that will only need a little maintenance a few times each year. When you need to step in and do some pruning or snip away a few leaves that are starting to turn yellow, these tips will give you the knowledge you need to care for your plants with confidence.

1. Light

Knowing and understanding your home’s light conditions and where you want to situate houseplants should all be considered before choosing your next plant baby. Here are the main types of natural light settings to familiarize yourself with;

• Full Sun: Most house plants do not like full sun and many of them will become very damaged or will not survive very long when they receive too much direct sunlight. The only plants that enjoy summer sun is desert cacti, and succulents can tolerate a lot of sun (succulents seem to prefer some sun and bright conditions). Full sun is experienced from a south facing window.

• Partial sunlight and shade: For a plant to receive sun during the day for a couple of hours or so it will need to be seated close to a west or east facing window. Placed near a west or east facing window will give a plant some morning or evening sun; avoiding the heat of the midday sun. Many plants, especially flowering types grow at their best close to a window in partial sun and shade.

• Full shade or low light: Most plants do not grow at their best in shaded or low light conditions, especially flowering types. However, you'll find some species survive and are known for their ability to thrive in low light and they're easy to grow (good for beginner growers). A few plants come to mind that grow in low lighting well includes the cast iron plant, mother in laws tongue, dragon tree, and zz plant. A north facing window provides full shade, but low light can often depend on the size or amount of windows in a room.

• Bright without direct sun: This is the lighting requirement for most foliage plants and many flowering types too. The best place for bright light without direct sun is a south facing window; with the plant set back a few feet from the window. East and west facing windows are also suitable if the window is large enough to allow plenty of daylight, with the plant sitting far enough back from the early midday sun arriving and early sunset.

2. Watering

All plants need water to survive, although some get moisture from the air and don’t need direct watering. Even a cactus needs water, but too much can cause it root rot and too little will see it shrivel. In fact, over watering is the most common cause of death in indoor plants. If the roots of a plant are surrounded by water, they can’t absorb oxygen and soggy roots promote pest and disease problems.

Most houseplants are happy with a once a week watering schedule. However, this may not be the case for all plants, so it’s important to know when your plant does not need water. Just because the top layer of soil looks dry doesn’t mean it is. And, the plant may not “need” to be watered on the scheduled watering day. You can check how wet or dry the soil of your plant is by sticking your fingers about an inch into the soil & feeling. Alternatively, there are soil moisture meters you can use that will give you a reading on just how much moisture is in the soil. Plants grown in well-drained soil in an appropriate-size container should be watered when the top 1/2 to 1 inch of soil feels dry.

3. Clean the leaves

Almost all houseplants look better with regular cleaning. Dust collects on leaves, so wash them with a gentle shower of room-temperature water or dust them with a soft brush if the plants have hairy leaves (which can hold onto moisture and encourage disease). For plants with smooth leaves, you can also use a cloth to gently wipe away any dust that collects on leaves. Not only does this improve your plant's appearance, but it'll actually help it to soak up more light.

4. Repot Overgrown Houseplants

Not sure if your houseplants need repotting? Check the root systems. If the roots are circling the inside of the container, it may be time to repot the plant. If the plant has outgrown its pot, you can transplant it into a slightly larger container. If you'd like to keep it in the same pot, trim off some of the roots with a sharp knife and replant it into the container using fresh potting soil.

As you repot your houseplants, it's also a good time to divide those with multiple stems to create new plants. Spring and summer are the best seasons for repotting your houseplants.

5. Remove Dying Leaves

Trim faded flowers from your plants to encourage more blooms and help prevent disease problems. While you're at it, be sure to remove yellow, brown, or withered leaves. Use a narrow-blade hand pruner or sharp scissors to make a clean cut without tearing the plant's stem. It's a good idea to wipe off the blades of your pruners with rubbing alcohol before moving on to a different plant to avoid spreading any pests and diseases. Remember, when you remove the dying leaves from your plant it allows it to give more energy to new growth and support for the thriving leaves.

New to home gardening, here are some Easy Care Houseplants that are “Hard to Kill”'

• Pothos

• Snake Plant

• Peace Lily

• Philodendron

• Cacti and Succulents

• Christmas (Holiday) Cactus

• Spider Plant

• Aloe Vera